When you are wintering in Connecticut it is important to always be on the lookout for reasons to be upbeat.

If you are passive about your mood in winter you risk coming down with a case of the winter blahs.

The winter blahs come in many forms but the most common symptom is a lack of enthusiasm for anything other than vegetating and sugar.

If, for example, you cannot summon the energy to get up off the couch and walk to the pantry to retrieve a fresh package of Oreos, you probably have a case of winter blahs.

The Oreo, it should be noted, is not the best way to combat winter. In winter, the Oreo is not a cookie, it is a drug. (This is your brain. This is your brain on Oreos.)

But we are talking about reasons to be upbeat.

Here is a positive thought: We are now halfway through winter.

I base this calculation on meteorological winter, which defines the season as being December, January and February, the three coldest months.

Not only is winter's glass half empty, but we are also gaining light at both the beginning and end of the day.

Granted, there isn't much you can do with additional light in winter, but it does afford one an opportunity to see how many high school kids are still waiting for the bus in T-shirts.

One thing to be absolutely ecstatic about this winter is the price of gas. Given the direction in which prices are heading, we could soon be back to a time where everyone chips in a quarter for gas and you have enough in the tank to cruise all night. (Can checking your oil and cleaning the windshield be far behind?)

In terms of winter diversions that are not alcohol related, the quality and quantity of television programming is better than it has ever been.

In fact, with a decent cable package and skillful deployment of the DVR function, it is now within the realm of possibility to begin binge watching television at the start of winter and still have enough shows and series left to carry you through a surprise March blizzard.

Finally, there is this. A month from now pitchers and catchers will be reporting for spring training. Of course, I would be much more upbeat about this if I weren't a Red Sox fan.